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Joint protest against ATC victimisation
5 September 2008
The ITF has joined IFATCA, the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations, in protesting over the mistreatment of members of the ASECNA francophone air traffic controllers’ federation. Despite promises to the contrary, workers who took part in industrial action in ASECNA member states Niger and Burkina Faso now face suspension, replacement and even detention.
Air traffic controllers working under the ASECNA (Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation Aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar) umbrella have been petitioning it for 10 years to improve working conditions, training and basic safety practices. Failure to respond led them to take industrial action on July 29 this year, which they called off after two days. Despite a promise to the contrary from the Ministries of Transport and Labour in Niger, members have now been suspended and the union threatened with derecognition, and similar threats made in Burkina Faso.
The ITF and IFATCA have called on ASECNA to lift the suspensions immediately and refrain from further sanctions in order to establish a positive framework in which management and union leaders can come together and begin to discuss the issues in order to reach a satisfactory way forward for everyone.
Nazi Kaboré, ITF Francophone Coordinator commented: “This is a crucial time for the controllers, both in terms of the existence of their jobs and of their unions. We strongly remind the ASECNA Director General that safe air traffic control relies on a trained and motivated workforce and these actions are putting that at risk.”
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